172 KHASI HILLS. 



Cherra Pooajee is itself placed. This marks au elevation above the 

 present sea level of about 4,200 feet — an elevation which includes a vast 

 area in the Khasi Hills, and v^hich is marked not only by this flat 

 ground at Cherra Poonjee, but also by the flats around Xonkradem, at 

 the top of the long spur on which that village stands ; by the flats around 

 the Kala Pani ; by those forming the beautiful park-like and wooded 

 downs around Joowye ; and, again, more to the North, by the plains 

 around Nungklow. In fact the great mass of these hiUs would be brought 

 under the present sea level by a depression of 4,300 feet, only a few 

 isolated points remaining as islands where this extensive range now stands. 



A second apparently well marked level of terracing is passed over on the 

 road from Cherra Poonjee to Teria Ghat at the Mahadeo, forming the 

 level of the top of the precipitous scarp of these hills which faces the 

 South. This marks a level of from 2,200 to 2,400, and similar plateaux 

 at the same, or very nearly the same elevation may be traced in other 

 places along the face of the hills. The flats under Tungjinath on the 

 Nonkradem spur, and the plateau of Lakadong, and of a considerable area 

 of country near it, are about the same elevation and of thesame character. 



A third, though less marked terracing, seems to be indicated at the 

 level of 750 to 800 feet. Along the Southern face this is greatly con- 

 cealed by the dense forest which covers the hill slopes, but may be traced 

 in several places. . 



It is impossible to do more than simply indicate the occurrence of 

 these terraces and their probable cause. To trace them out in detail 

 would require a much more accurate map than was at our disposal, or 

 ■ than we could devote time to construct. And even with such an aid, 

 the inaccessibility of many parts of the hill sides, so as to determine 

 their relative levels with accuracy, would render such details only 

 attainable after great labour, risk, and time. Those which I have 

 mentioned are alluded to, not so much as specially connected with these 

 hills, as in illustration of the general fact, which every season's further 



